What We're Here to Do

1. 1Offer free and comprehensive assessment and consulting services to small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) for resource efficiency, resilience, and productivity.
2. 2Train students in improving industrial efficiency and operations through hands-on, real-world experience by conducting student team assessments of SMEs.
3. 3Provide outreach and education opportunities to SMEs beyond those we directly serve, extending our impact across the region.

Eligibility Requirements

1. 1The site must be less than 150 miles from UConn, Storrs campus.
2. 2The NAICS industry code must be between 31100-33999.
3. 3The SIC industry code must be between 2000-3999.
4. 4The annual sales of the business must be less than $250 million.
5. 5The business must have less than 500 employees.
6. 6The annual energy cost of the business must be between $100,000 and $3.5 million.
7. 7The business should not have any in-house energy professional.

About the ITAC Program

Industrial Training and Assessment Centers were created by the Department of Commerce in 1976 in response to the oil embargo and rising energy costs. The program was specifically focused on helping small and medium-sized manufacturing facilities cut back on unnecessary costs from inefficient energy use.

The ITAC program was moved to the Department of Energy just after it was formed in 1978 and was later expanded to include evaluations of ineffective production procedures, excess waste production, and other production-related problems. More recent additions to the ITAC program scope include improving cybersecurity awareness, exploring smart manufacturing technologies, and implementing comprehensive energy management systems.

Education

Each year, about 500 engineering students at ITACs receive hands-on assessment training at operating industrial facilities and gain substantiative experience performing evaluations of industrial processes and energy systems. Alumni report the training sets them apart in the job market.

Employers seek out ITAC graduates. ITAC students graduate with the skills and abilities to conduct energy, waste, and productivity assessments; use instrumentation and diagnostic equipment; work safely in an industrial environment; and communicate successfully through written reports and presentations to clients. These skills–that can only be gained through real-world experience–make graduates highly attractive to employers.